Development of a Resource Planning Index for Washington's Scenic and Recreational Highways

Transcription

1 Development of a Resource Planning Index for Washington's Scenic and Recreational Highways WA-RD Kevin Ramsey February 2010 WSDOT Research Report Office of Research & Library Services

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3 Final Technical Report Research Project Agreement No. T4118, Task 54 Development of a Resource Planning Index for Washington s Scenic and Recreational Highways By Kevin Ramsey, Ph.D. University of Washington Department of Geography University of Washington, Bx Seattle, Washington Washington State Transportation Center (TRAC) University of Washington, Box University District Building 1107 NE 45th Street, Suite 535 Seattle, Washington Washington State Department of Transportation Technical Monitor Paula Reeves MCP, Local Planning Branch Manager A report prepared for The State of Washington Department of Transportation Paula J. Hammond, Secretary February 2010

4 TECHNICAL REPORT STANDARD TITLE PAGE 1. REPORT NO. 2. GOVERNMENT ACCESSION NO. 3. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NO. WA-RD TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE Development of a Resource Planning Index for Washington s February PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE Scenic and Recreational Highways 7. AUTHOR(S) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO. Kevin Ramsey 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. WORK UNIT NO. University of Washington 11. CONTRACT OR GRANT NO. Office of Sponsored Programs 1100 NE 45 th, Suite 300 Agreement T Seattle, WA SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED Research Office Washington State Department of Transportation Transportation Building, MS Olympia, Washington Kathy Lindquist, Project Manager, SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Final Technical Report 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE This study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 16. ABSTRACT Washington State Department of Transportation Local Programs Division requested the creation of a Resource Planning Index (or Index ) for use in benchmarking and tracking the stewardship performance of investments associated with Washington s Scenic and Recreational Highways. A GIS analysis was performed to develop a unique Index value for each 1000 feet of roadway. The Index value was calculated based on the proximity of features of interest associated with specific opportunities for protecting, preserving, or enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. This Index may be used in preliminary assessments of locations where there may be a confluence of such opportunities. As always, a local scale analysis of the location should assess exactly what opportunities exist there and whether a proposed project would actually provide the desired benefit or impact. 17. KEY WORDS 18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT Scenic and Recreational Highways No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA SECURITY CLASSIF. (of this report) 20. SECURITY CLASSIF. (of this page) 21. NO. OF PAGES 22. PRICE None None 16

5 Development of a Resource Planning Index for Washington s Scenic and Recreational Highways Contents 1. INTRODUCTION IDENTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITIES DATA COLLECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE INDEX CALCULATION METHODOLOGY IDENTIFICATION OF LOCATIONS OF HIGHEST POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS OF THE RESOURCE PLANNING INDEX RECOMMENDED USE OF THE RESOURCE PLANNING INDEX Table 1 Data Included in the Resource Planning Index Analysis... 5 Figure 1 Figure 2 Resource Planning Index Values for Scenic and Recreational Highways Locations of Highest Potential for Protecting, Preserving, and Enhancing Resources Associated with Washington Scenic and Recreational Highways iii

6 1. INTRODUCTION Washington State Department of Transportation Local Programs Division requested the creation of a Resource Planning Index for use in benchmarking and tracking the stewardship performance of investments associated with Washington s Scenic and Recreational Highways. For the purpose of this study, stewardship is defined as protecting, preserving, and enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. 1 These resources may be scenic (e.g., view shed), environmental (e.g. ecosystems, water quality, or wildlife habitats), or historic (e.g, historic locations). The Resource Planning Index (or Index ) provides a rough measure of the potential for locations along Scenic and Recreational Highways to benefit from stewardship oriented projects. The State Scenic and Recreational Highway System was established by the State Legislature based on a 1962 visual quality assessment of state highways. This assessment identified and selected state highways with significant scenic resources. Visual assessments were conducted two additional times before 1990, confirming the state s Scenic and Recreational Highway System. This study compiles available GIS data to build on the visual assessments of the past. WSDOT recognizes that projects intended to serve the goal of increasing tourism or economic development may or may not also serve the goal of stewardship. WSDOT also recognizes that there is an opportunity to increase emphasis on accomplishing both tourism/economic development and stewardship. This analysis focuses exclusively on the goal of stewardship. More detailed and local scale analysis conducted as part of corridor plan or other plans will be required to evaluate whether individual investments can address the goals of both stewardship and tourism/economic development. The findings from this statewide analysis of stewardship potential are preliminary. These findings should be used as a first cut guide to highlight areas in the Scenic and Recreational Highway System that have a high potential for protecting, preserving, and enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. 1 Steering Committee Meeting, State Scenic and Recreational Highway Plan, September 24, 2009; p. 3. 1

7 2. IDENTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITIES The first step in this analysis was to identify different kinds of opportunities for protecting, preserving, or enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. These opportunities take into consideration the kinds of impacts that highways can have on scenic, environmental, and historic resources as well as ways in which those impacts can be mitigated. Opportunities considered in this analysis are listed as follows:! Enhancing the viability of existing habitats and ecosystems Scenic and recreational highways have inevitable impacts on the existing habitats and ecosystems in their proximity including storm water run off, watershed function, noise and air pollution, habitat fragmentation, and facilitating the development of unprotected lands. Areas with existing habitats and ecosystems provide opportunities to mitigate potential impacts through stewardship projects including overlay zones, the purchase of land or conservation easements, or roadway design improvements that mitigate sound, air, or water pollution resulting from roadway traffic.! Enhancing the viability of known habitat corridors Numerous species of concern in Washington State need to move between habitat areas to survive, reproduce, and maintain their genetic fitness. Identification of priority habitat corridors for Grizzly Bear, Wolf, Canada Lynx, and Wolverine has been completed. However, a more comprehensive effort is underway and likely to produce map products by the end of Maintaining suitable conditions in identified corridors throughout the state is crucial to habitat connectivity and the long term health of many wildlife populations. Scenic and recreational highways, and the development of land to which they provide access, may impact habitat connectivity. Investments such as roadside habitat preservation or (in the case of major highways) bridges for wildlife passage can mitigate these impacts and enhance the viability of habitat corridors.! Reducing impacts to species at particular risk of road kills Some priority habitat areas within Washington contain species that are at particular risk to collisions with vehicles on sections of scenic and recreational highways. For instance, several reptile species move slowly and are attracted to the heat emanated by road surfaces at night. 2 Areas rich with these species provide opportunities for roadway design improvements that can help to reduce road kills.! Enhancing the viability aquatic and riparian habitat Scenic and recreational highways, as well as the development of land to which they provide access, may have implications for the viability of aquatic and riparian habitat. A majority of fish and wildlife species in Washington 2 According to Kelly McAllister, Habitat Connectivity Biologist at WSDOT. 2

8 depend on aquatic and riparian ecosystems for all or part of their life cycle. 3 This includes a number of federally listed endangered and threatened species, such as salmon. Opportunities to mitigate impacts on these ecosystems may include improved culvert design for fish passage, improved management and treatment of roadway runoff, riparian habitat restoration along scenic and recreational highways, and protection of aquatic or riparian habitats near scenic and recreational highways.! Reducing impacts to places of scenic, cultural, and historic significance Places of scenic, cultural, and historic significance in Washington State can be detrimentally impacted by highway traffic and development pressures. Specific impacts include noise and air pollution as well as nearby development that can alter the character of these places. Such impacts can be reduced or mitigated by historic preservation, the purchase of land or conservation easements to preserve view sheds, or improved roadway design. This analysis assumes locations with multiple opportunities for protecting, preserving, and enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways have a higher potential for benefits than other locations. In other words: the more opportunities that exist in a location, the higher the potential for benefit. Locations with high potential will be assigned a correspondingly higher Index value and corresponding color on the map (see Figure 1). 3 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Design of Road Culverts for Fish Passage, 3

9 3. DATA COLLECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Existing spatial data resources relevant to determining areas with high potential for protecting, preserving, and enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways were collected and assessed for quality. Table 1 includes a listing of all data used in the development of the Resource Planning Index. These data are grouped as features of interest that are associated with specific opportunities identified in Section 2. 4

10 Table 1: Data Included in the Resource Planning Index Analysis Feature of Interest Relevant Opportunity Data Title Data Source Data Description Protected areas Enhancing the viability of existing habitats and ecosystems Enhancing the viability aquatic and riparian habitat Reducing impacts to places of scenic, cultural, and historic significance Natural Area Preserves (NAP) Natural Resource Conservation Areas (NCRA) Wildlife areas and refuges National Parks WA State Parks USFS Wilderness Areas Dept. of Natural Resources Dept. of Natural Resources Dept. of Fish and Wildlife National Park Service State Parks USFS Polygon data describing the location of NAPs in Washington. NAPs protect the best remaining examples of many ecological communities including rare plant and animal habitat. 4 These areas are not intended for recreational purposes. Polygon data describing the location of NCRAs in Washington. Conservation areas protect outstanding examples of native ecosystems, habitat for endangered, threatened and sensitive plants and animals, and scenic landscapes. Environmental education and low impact public use are appropriate on conservation areas where they do not impair the resource values of the area protected. 5 Polygon data describing protected areas designated for wildlife conservation. Polygon data describing the location of National Parks in Washington. National Parks are tourism and recreational destinations that preserve natural and cultural resources. Polygon data describing the location of State Parks in Washington. State parks are tourism and recreational destinations that preserve natural and cultural resources. Polygon data describing the location of federally designated Wilderness Areas in Washington State. These public lands are protected from all development and allow only for low impact recreation. TNC nature preserves National Recreation Areas TNC WSDOT Polygon data describing the location of all preserves owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. These preserves are open to the public for low impact recreational activities. Polygon data describing the location of all National Recreation Areas in Washington

11 Priority Habitat Areas Natural Heritage Areas Enhancing the viability of existing habitats and ecosystems Enhancing the viability of existing habitats and ecosystems Talus slope Shrub steppe Prairie Natural Heritage Areas Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Dept. of Natural Resources Polygon data describing talus slope habitats in Washington State. According to Kelly McAllister, Habitat Connectivity Biologist, this habitat type captures some of the more reptile rich areas in Washington which is significant for highways since reptiles are subject to elevated road kill risk due to their slow moving nature and attraction to heat being emanated, at night, from road surfaces. Polygon data describing shrub steppe habitats in Washington State. Habitat recommended for consideration by Kelly McAllister, Habitat Connectivity Biologist due to the many species of concern associated with this rare and declining habitat type. Polygon data describing prairie habitats in Washington State. Habitat recommended for consideration by Kelly McAllister, Habitat Connectivity Biologist due to the many species of concern associated with this rare and declining habitat type. Polygon data describing areas with rare plants and ecological communities that have been prioritized for conservation efforts by Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP) within the Department of Natural Resources. 6 These areas are likely to be unsuitable for recreation oriented investments (due to impacts of people traffic on wildlife). Wildlife corridors Enhancing the viability of known habitat corridors Lynx corridors Wolf corridors Wolverine corridors Raster data regarding landscape permeability for lynx in Washington State. Cells are valued based on a habitat connectivity analysis conducted by biologist Peter Singleton. Locations that are most viable as habitat corridors are given the highest value. Source habitats for lynx were also included in this analysis and treated as corridors of highest viability. Raster data regarding landscape permeability for wolves in Washington State. Cells are valued based on a habitat connectivity analysis conducted by biologist Peter Singleton. Locations that are most viable as habitat corridors are given the highest value. Source habitats for wolves were also included in this analysis and treated as corridors of highest viability. Raster data regarding landscape permeability for wolverines in Washington State. Cells are valued based on a habitat connectivity analysis conducted by biologist Peter Singleton. Locations that are most viable as habitat corridors are given the highest value. Source habitats for wolverines were also included in this analysis and treated as corridors of highest viability

12 Lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams Enhancing the viability aquatic and riparian habitat Grizzly bear corridors Streams and rivers Lakes and wetlands Dept. of Ecology Dept. of Ecology Raster data regarding landscape permeability for grizzly bears in Washington State. Cells are valued based on a habitat connectivity analysis conducted by biologist Peter Singleton. Locations that are most viable as habitat corridors are given the highest value. Source habitats for grizzly bears were also included in this analysis and treated as corridors of highest viability. Arc data regarding streams and rivers listed in the Washington Shoreline Management act. 7 A 1000 foot buffer around these areas was created for the purpose of analysis. Polygon data regarding lakes and wetlands listed in the Washington Shoreline Management act. 8 A 1000 foot buffer around these areas was created for the purpose of analysis. Impacted waterways Fish barriers Enhancing the viability aquatic and riparian habitat Enhancing the viability aquatic and riparian habitat Class 2 impacted waterways Class 4 (A, B, & C) impacted waterways Class 5 impacted waterways Dept. of Ecology Dept. of Ecology Dept. of Ecology Polygon data describing waters of concern. These waterways have evidence of water quality degradation. A 1000 foot buffer around these areas was created for the purpose of analysis. Polygon data describing polluted waters that do not require a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load). A 1000 foot buffer around these areas was created for the purpose of analysis. Polygon data describing polluted waters that require a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load). A 1000 foot buffer around these areas was created for the purpose of analysis. Fish Barriers WSDOT Point data of locations where fish passage across WA roadways is impeded 7 ftp:// 8 ftp:// 7

13 Historic locations Reducing impacts to places of scenic, cultural, and historic significance Nationally registered historic locations Dept. of Archeology and Historic Preservation Point data describing nationally registered historic places in Washington State. These locations are being preserved for their historic significance. A 1000 foot buffer around these areas was created for the purpose of analysis. Current and future land use Enhancing the viability of existing habitats and ecosystems Enhancing the viability aquatic and riparian habitat Reducing impacts to culturally and historically significant places Benton Benton Co. Visual inspection of online comprehensive plan map 9 indicates no conflict with areas of high stewardship potential. Chelan Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Clallam Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Clark Clark Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Franklin Franklin Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Grant Grant Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Grays Harbor Grant Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Jefferson Jefferson Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or King King Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Kitsap Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Klickitat Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or 9 COM_PLAN_ _ pdf 8

14 Mason Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Okanogan Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Pacific Pacific Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Pierce Pierce Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or San Juan San Juan Co. Zoning data received from county. Metadata not yet available for review. Skagit Skagit Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Snohomish Snohomish Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Spokane Spokane Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Stevens Zoning data received from. No metadata is available to assess its relevance to stewardship priorities. Therefore it is not included in this analysis. Thurston Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Watcom Watcom Co. Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or Yakima Polygon data regarding parcels zoned or planned for commercial, industrial, or 9

15 4. INDEX CALCULATION METHODOLOGY The data sets listed in Table 1 of this report were analyzed to create a unique data set called a Resource Planning Index for the purpose of this report. This Index assigns values to locations along Scenic and Recreational Highways based on the potential to protect, preserve, or enhance resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. The Index data is organized in the form of a raster grid with cells that correspond to 1000 feet on the ground. The Index value for each is calculated based on the presence (or in some cases, proximity) of a feature of interest that is relevant to an opportunity to protect, preserve, or enhance resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways (see Section 2 and Table 1 above). If a cell intersects multiple features of interest, its Index value will be higher. All features of interest are weighed equally in this analysis, with the exception of wildlife corridors. The weight assigned for these corridors is graduated based on each cell s viability as a wildlife corridor (see data description in Table 1 above). Highest viability cells are given the same weight as every other feature of interest. Less viable cells are given proportionally less value. The calculation of Index values is described here: +10 if a cell is within a protected area +10 if a cell is within a Priority Habitat Area of concern +10 if a cell is within a Natural Heritage Area Up to + 10 if cell is within a grizzly wildlife corridor or source habitat Up to + 10 if cell is within a lynx wildlife corridor or source habitat Up to + 10 if cell is within a wolf wildlife corridor or source habitat Up to + 10 if cell is within a wolverine wildlife corridor +10 if a cell is within 1000 feet of a SMA listed lake, wetland, river, or stream +10 if cell is within 1000 feet of an impacted waterway +10 if cell contains a fish barrier +10 if cell is within 1000 feet of a registered historic location Exclude all cells within parcels zoned for commercial, industrial, business park, or airport development. 10

16 5. IDENTIFICATION OF LOCATIONS OF HIGHEST POTENTIAL Figure 1 represents Resource Planning Index values for each 1000 foot segment of the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. 10 The range of Index values along these roadways is 0 to 50. This data was then analyzed to isolate the segments that have the highest potential for preserving, and enhancing resources associated of Scenic and Recreational Highways. Roadway segments with clusters of cells in the top 40% of the Index range (30 or higher) were identified. These areas are represented in Figure 2. For ease of readability Figure 2 does not symbolize isolated cells with values of 30 or higher. For raw Index values throughout the Scenic and Recreational Highway System, including an accounting of all cells with values over a particular threshold, it is necessary to consult the original raster layer created for this analysis. 10 For map readability, the 1000-foot cells were expanded by one cell in each direction. To recover precise measurements for points along Scenic and Recreational Highways is will be necessary to return to the original GIS data. 11

17 6. LIMITATIONS OF THE RESOURCE PLANNING INDEX As with any statewide GIS analysis, this Index has a number of limitations that must be considered whenever it is used. First, the data available provide only an imperfect assessment of a location s opportunities for protecting, preserving, or enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. For instance not all protected areas have equal viability as functioning ecosystems or habitats. Nor do all rivers, lakes, and wetlands have equal viability as riparian habitats. Yet this analysis treats all such places equally and with equal weight and assumes that these areas can equally benefit. Again, this may not necessarily be the case. However, it does provide a new data set and a method for benchmarking and tracking progress that can serve to support the visual assessments of scenic qualities conducted in the past. There are also issues around the completeness of statewide data. For instance, wildlife habitat corridor data is only available for four rare forest carnivores. There are many other species of concern for which habitat connectivity and corridor data is not currently available. Additional corridor identification work is in progress and the first GIS outputs will be available in late Likewise data regarding Priority Habitat Areas is shaped by the interests, priorities, and abilities of field biologists who conduct field surveys to collect data about such areas. There may be other habitats that are significantly impacted by scenic and recreational highways that are not considered in this analysis. Finally land use data that is collected at the county level may vary in accuracy, currency, and definitions. Fortunately, county level zoning data is only used to eliminate areas from consideration rather than boost Stewardship Index values. Therefore this particular limitation has only minor significance to overall Stewardship Index values There are also limitations to the Index as a measure of a location s potential for benefit. What the Index measures is simply the proximity or absence of particular features of interest. These features of interest are associated with various opportunities for protecting, preserving, or enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. Therefore locations with higher Index values roughly measure the number of different opportunities that may be collocated in a particular cell or area. However, it is important to be clear that the Index does not necessarily measure or describe the priority of a location. 12

18 7. RECOMMENDED USE OF THE RESOURCE PLANNING INDEX There are a number of ways in which the Index could be used. The most appropriate use is as follows:! Identification of appropriate locations for focus The Index is a first pass assessment of locations where there may be a confluence of opportunities for protecting, preserving, or enhancing resources associated with the state Scenic and Recreational Highways. Therefore, if the goal of an investment is to address multiple opportunities at once, the Index can be used to roughly determine whether or not a location may be appropriate for this goal. As always, a local scale analysis of the location should assess exactly what opportunities exist there and whether a proposed project would actually provide the desired benefit or impact to the location. 13

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